Rajiv Mehrishi Replaces LC Goyal As New Home Secretary

NEW DELHI, INDIA - NOVEMBER 18: Rajiv Mehrishi, Finance Secretary and newly appointed governor on board of ADB during launch of the Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) at Hotel Ashok on November 18, 2014 in New Delhi, India. The scheme, launched earlier in 1988, was very popular with gross collections in 2010-11 (scheme closed in November 2011) were Rs. 21,631.16 crore. Available in the denominations of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 5,000, Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 50,000, the sum invested would be doubled in 100 months. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

Senior IAS officer Rajiv Mehrishi was on Monday appointed the new Home Secretary, hours before he was to retire.

“The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Rajiv Mehrishi, IAS (1978 batch officer of Rajasthan cadre) Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance as Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs for a period of two years with effect from August 31,” a PIB statement said.

Reportedly, the current Home Secretary LC Goyal, has sought voluntary retirement, which was approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Interestingly, this will be the third Home secretary in the Modi government after Goyal's predecessor Anil Goswami had also sought vountary retirment in February 2014. Goswami's name had come up in a CBI probe for allegedly granting favours to Mathang Singh, an accused in the Saradha chit find scam, according to the Economic Times.